GRi Newsreel 19-03-99 

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 19 March  Mr P. E. K. Antwi, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied that the party has attempted to influence the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem, in choosing a successor to the Golden Stool.

In a statement to the press in Kumasi on Thursday, Mr Antwi described the story, which appeared in the " Ghanaian Chronicle" of Wednesday, as "baseless, ridiculous and without merit".

The statement said the NDC has not made any attempt to influence the Asantehemaa.

It said the party has high respect for the long-cherished traditions of Asantes in the selection of their chiefs.

The NDC is prepared to challenge the "so-called 'Chronicle' scouts" to substantiate the "wicked allegation".

It called on the media to leave Ghanaians to mourn the Asantehene in unity and in peace, saying there should be "no unnecessary politicisation and no concocted accusations"

Akosombo (Eastern Region) 19 March

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) are to be prepared for commercialisation within the next three years under the public sector reform agenda.

The on-going workshop on the Re-invention of Government selected these two entities from a list of nine because they appeared to have the potential for growth.

Sixty delegates from the executive arm of government, the judiciary, legislature, Trade Union Congress (TUC), the community and public, are reviewing governments proposals of down-sizing the public sector to achieve efficiency.

The three-day workshop, which ends tomorrow, Friday, March 19, is being organised by the National Institutional Renewal Programme (NIRP) and jointly sponsored by the government of Ghana and the World Bank.

The new status to be accorded the GNA and GBC, which was hotly debated, means they will be taken off overnment's pay roll after complete managerial, financial and technical review and strengthening.

Delegates, however, cautioned that government should adequately prepare the media houses before completely commercialising them.

They said national security and access to information should be some of the guiding principles at the preparatory stage.

Government funds 180 agencies but since there is no effective reform process that can take all of them at a go, only 30 are being monitored under a three-year pilot programme initiated by the NIRP to ascertain their viability or otherwise.

Akosombo (Eastern Region) 19 March

Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, on Wednesday said the commercialisation of Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) will help them grow to accept modern realities.

"They still have a lot of problems to be solved. We must prepare them well for the journey by revamping them. We surely can't say goodbye when we know they are too young to survive".

Mr Mahama told delegates attending the on-going workshop on Government Re-invention: "We fully support it. But how quick and at what stage are we going to fully commercialise them?"

He said Ghana News Agency needs a virtually new technical base, straighten its managerial strategy and ndeavour to take advantage of emerging information technology to win back its premiership in information collection and distribution.

"Their monopoly on foreign news has been broken by the advent of the Internet but could be strengthened to use the Internet to make money in one way or the other".

Government is of the view it could still have all its programmes aired on GBC waves if it kept the 12.5 billion cedis given to it as annual subvention, he said.

"We want to be seen not interfering with the operations of GBC, so that they could expand and make savings for themselves."

Mr Mahama said television licence fees, over which it is now being argued that GBC should not have monopoly, is being reviewed.

Very soon, anyone, who purchases a television set would have to buy a licence, whose value is comparable to the set's life span.

"The money will then be put into a Broadcasting Development Fund that will promote broadcasting in the country.

Dr Cletus Doduonoo, a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), said arguments presented to justify the commercialisation of the GNA and GBC are shallow.

He said there is a lot for reflection, especially the history behind the institutions, before tampering with them.

Dr Doduonoo said the form of commercialisation and the risks associated with survival should be considered seriously.

"Are we saying money should overrule social services? And how will a citizen of Bawku hear anything about his town if GNA is to focus on the search for money?"

"We are rushing into something we do not know yet," he added.

Mr Emmanuel Ashare Sai, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, opined that risks associated with the commercialisation of GNA and GBC will not be too high, as the Ministry of Communications is capable of giving out guidelines that will put them on track.

The time has come for all and sundry to accept the fact that without sacrifices, Vision 2020 cannot achieve its objectives.

Tamale (Northern Region) 19 March

The Ghana Highway Authority has earmarked 22.42 billion cedis for routine and periodic maintenance of roads in the Northern Region this year.

The routine maintenance works, which involves grading of gravel roads, provision of culverts, clearing of ditches and clearing of grasses along roads, is estimated at 2.8 billion cedis, while 19.62 billion cedis to be spent on periodic maintenance, would go into road rehabilitation, resealing and re-gravelling.

Mr D.K. Sintim-Aboagye, regional director of the authority, disclosed this at a maiden "meet the press" series organised by the Regional Co-ordinating Council in collaboration with the regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association to give departmental heads the opportunity to highlight their activities.

He said the trunk road network for the region is about 2,690 kilometres with about 430 kilometres tarred.

Mr Sintim-Aboagye suggested the need to redesign a number of roads in the region to accommodate the increasing traffic.

Accra (Greater Region) 19 March

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has concluded an agreement with Radio France Internationale (RFI) for transmission of the latter's programmes in Accra.

Under the five-year agreement, RFI will use GBC's equipment to broadcast on Frequency Modulation (FM) 89.5 using both French and English languages starting today.

Programmes to be covered include music, education, magazines, debates and international news with emphasis on Africa and an increased coverage of Ghana.

Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, said the opening of RFI station is in tune with the government's policy to liberalise the country's airwaves and create a multiplicity of information channels.

"The presence of the RFI station on our airwaves reinforces the government's strong desire for the spirit of openness and transparency through the free flow of information", he said.

Mr Mahama described the launch as significant, saying Ghana is surrounded by French communities and this will enhance interest in French language for effective communication with her French-speaking neighbours.

"Indeed Ghana is positioning itself to be the gateway to West Africa; we cannot be a proper gateway if we are unable to communicate with neighbouring Francophone countries which form the majority in the West African sub-region," the minister said.

The partnership between RFI and GBC will bring about the exchange of ideas and expertise, he said.

Mr Mahama expressed the hope that in future Ghanaians will be absorbed into RFI as staff.

Mr Diddier Ferrand, French ambassador in Ghana, underscored the importance of RFI' presence in Ghana.

He said Accra hosts international programmes like fairs, conferences, seminars and meetings which attract a number of visitors many of whom are French-speaking Africans and the presence of RFI will be much appreciated.

Mr Ferrand said RFI would also donate equipment and share its experiences with journalists and technicians of GBC to enhance performance.

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 March

Nana Paddy Acheampong, a Deputy Minister of Health, said a lot of diseases can be minimised through vegetarianism.

He said excessive and unbalanced intakes of meat and other unwholesome food items are often associated with heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, hypertension and dental caries which are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries.

Nana Paddy Acheampong said this when he opened the Asase Pa Vegetarian Restaurant in Accra on the theme "improving the diet of Ghana towards the new millennium".

It is the second exclusively vegetarian restaurant to be set up in Ghana by the Bold Spiritual Initiative (BSI) Limited, an African Hebrew Israelite company based in Jerusalem.

Nana Acheampong said vegetarianism is spreading fast throughout the world with a growing number in Ghana which ranges from vegans who depend only on plant food from pulses, cereals and vegetables to those on Zen Macrobiotic diet which consist of only cereals, brown rice and herb tea with limited fluid intake.

He said the vision and achievements of BSI reflect the aims and aspirations of the Ministry of Health which recognises nutritional wellbeing as a major requisite to reduce the incidence of diseases and achieve a full social, mental and physical potential of Ghanaians.

Jirapa (Upper West) 19 March

Youth groups in the Jirapa/Lambussie district are to benefit from a 20 million-cedi package under the Youth in Agriculture Project.

Mr Jacob Boon, Jirapa/Lambussie District Chief Executive, made this known at the second ordinary meeting of the assembly at Jirapa yesterday.

He, however, warned future beneficiaries of the fund against using it for trading activities.

Under the assembly's poverty alleviation fund, Mr Boon said money would be provided for groups who want to undertake income-generating activities.

The assembly collected 128 million cedis as revenue last year out of which over 20 million cedis was used to pay the end-of-service benefits of members of the last assembly, he said.

Sekondi (Western Region) 19 March

 Mr. Emmanuel Assan, Western Regional Youth Co-ordinator, yesterday called on the youth to use their energies on profitable ventures.

Mr. Assan made the call when closing a three-day training and orientation programme for 60 coaches and players drawn from 12 football clubs within the Sekondi community.

The programme formed part of a "Challenge Cup" project, aimed at using the game of football to spread the message on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome(AIDS), Sexually Transmitted Diseases and to promote discussion on reproductive health needs among adults and the youth.

The project is being sponsored by Johns Hopkins University of the United States and the USAID in collaboration with the National Youth Council (NYC).

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 March

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has observed that human activities on the land are the major causes of water shortages and water pollution. Agricultural development, urbanisation and industrialisation, he said, cause the most harm and must be the primary focus of freshwater management efforts.

This is contained in Mr Annan's statement for World day for Water which falls on March 22.

Access to a secure, safe and sufficient source of fresh water is a fundamental requirement for survival, well-being and socioeconomic development, he said. "Yet, we continue to act as if fresh water were a perpetually abundant resource. It is not. Fresh water is precious: we cannot live without it."

Mr Annan said fresh water is irreplaceable and there are no substitutes for it, adding that human activity has a profound impact on the quantity and quality of fresh water.

The UN Secretary-General said actions within one part of a watershed can have a profound effect on human water use on other parts and urged everybody to lead that "everybody leaves downstream."

Mr Annan said effective water management becomes even more difficult when the resource is shared between nations. "It is not always easy for nations to agree on the share of a watershed which each is entitled to. But all of them share an interest in avoiding conflict and in preserving a resource on which all depend."

Mr Annan said strains on the global supply of fresh water will only increase in the future, "especially in developing countries, where water shortage is usually only one strand in a nexus of socio-economic problems."

 Akosombo (Eastern Region) 19 March

Public Service reforms will make government business more efficient. However, lack of coordination will render government business divisive, Mr Emmanuel Ashare Sai, Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) said on Friday.

He said society is getting more complex and therefore institutions like the Public Service has to be tailored to suit modern trends.

In an interview with GNA Mr Sai said, ''I see the coordination of the numerous roles under the reform agenda as the most crucial element we have to face".

The PSC boss is among 60 delegates reviewing government strategy to reform the public service to suit the objectives of Vision 2020 at Akosombo.

Ghana and the World Bank are sponsoring the three-day workshop, organised by the National Institution Renewal Programme (NIRP).

Under the reform package, the PSC is to be principally responsible for human and administrative management. It will also be responsible for the management of constitutionally created independent bodies.

Mr Sai opined that reducing the entire public service could improve efficiency tremendously but then the right calibre of personnel will be needed to make the turn around complete.

"We have to train and re-orientate workers, equip them well and look at issues like reward and participation in decision making at workplaces which I think could change attitudes."

He described most concepts in the reform agenda as "old ones which have been left hanging and neglected.

"What we need as a people is the will and now is the time for this generation to make sacrifices for a better future", he added.

 Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 19 March

A recommendation by the executive committee of the Techiman District Assembly to privatise the brick and tile factory at Bamiri has been approved by the assembly at its second ordinary meeting. The factory is performing well.

The assembly at the instance of the executive committee, reconstituted the Tano basin conservation task force to ensure its efficient operation.

Among other things, the task force was mandated to check farming and other development activities close to river Tano and protect it from being polluted.

The terms of reference stressed the need to adopt stringent measures to curb all activities that pollute water bodies and degrade the environment in the district.

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 March

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said globalisation, which is creating a world community without borders, should also create a humanity free of the barriers of race.

In a statement to mark Day for elimination of racial discrimination which falls on March 21, he said the world should resolve to confront racial discrimination.

Mr Annan said as the world marks the last Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this century it must know that racism can, will and must be defeated. He noted that this century "has been scarred like no other by the evils of racism." However, it has also witnessed a revolution in the relations between races.

"From colonial oppression to the triumph of the civil rights movement, from genocide to self-determination, from racist atrocities to the end of apartheid, the century has given us reasons to rejoice and reasons to remain vigilant."

Mr Annan said ignorance and prejudice are the handmaidens of propaganda. "In most modern conflicts, the men of war prey on the ignorance of the populace to instil fears and arouse hatreds. "That was the case in Bosnia and in Rwanda, where genocidal ideologies took root in the absence of truthful information and honest education.

"That is the case in so-called developed and peaceful societies where human acts of racism continue to be perpetrated between neighbours to this day. "If only half the effort had gone into teaching those peoples what united them, and not what divides them, unspeakable crimes could have been prevented."

Mr Annan said bigotry, hatred and prejudice are ugly symptoms of a sickness humanity has suffered.

"Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with tolerance, bigotry with knowledge and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity."

Accra (Greater Accra) 19 March

Mr Mike Gizo, Minister of Tourism, on Friday said Ghana is prepared to learn and collaborate with Egypt which is experienced in the tourist trade.

Mr Gizo was speaking when the Egyptian Ambassador in Ghana, Mr Moneim Talant called on him to find out about arrangements for the World Tourism Organisation meeting to be held in Ghana in May this year.

The Minister said preparations for the meeting were on course and WTO is putting finishing touches to arrangements to ensure a successful meeting.

Mr Gizo said Ghana wants tourism to be the leading sector in the economy and every effort is being made to achieve that goal.

WA (Upper West) 19 March

The Wa police have arrested five farmers at Kpari, near Wa, for allegedly polluting a river with DDT insecticide to facilitate their fishing.

According to Inspector Daniel Dorkpoh, Upper West Police Regional Police Public Relations Officer, the river is the only source of drinking water for the entire community.

The suspects, Abudu Karkraba, Yussif Mwene, Atta Daremwene, Malik Bukari, and Jako Saaka, have been released on bail and would appear in court on March 22.

Ho (Volta Region) 19 March

Chiefs in the Volta Region and the Regional Minister, Alhaji Seidu Iddi have pledged to work closely to facilitate the region's speedy development.

This was when a three-man delegation of chiefs led by Togbe Dagadu the sixth, President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs called on the Regional Minister to welcome him formally to the region.

Togbe Dagadu said Volta chiefs have followed closely with interest the Minister's recent regional tour and his demonstration of commitment to the region's development and assured him of their support.

Alhaji Iddi said he was impressed by the warm reception he enjoyed during his regional tour which, he said, "demonstrates the support and acceptance by the people of my appointment to the region".

Katapei Number One (Ashanti Region) 19 March

The chief and people of Katapei Number One and Two in the Ahafo-Ano North district of Ashanti have appealed to

the government to terminate a road contract awarded to Five/N-Born Services Limited based in Kumasi. The contract is for the rehabilitation of the five-kilometre road linking the two towns to the main Tepa-Suponso road.

The chief, Nana Kwabena Nkrumah, Mr Philip Forkuo Mensah and Mr Oppong Appau, assembly members, made the appeal when Alhaji M.B. Al-Hassan, the Ahafo-Ano North District Co-ordinating Director, visited the twin towns.

The project which is under the Agricultural Sector Investment Project (ASIP) was awarded in 1994 at the cost of 74 million cedis and the assembly has paid its part of 30 million cedis to the contractor.

They told the District Co-ordinating Director that the deplorable nature of the road was taking a toll on their socio-economic activities and that drivers plying the route have threatened to stop when the rains set in.

They said since the contractor has shown gross dereliction of duty, the government should re-award the contract to a contractor who will execute it on time. Alhaji Al-Hassan assured them that the government was committed to improving the lot of the rural people and that the matter would be dealt with.